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Cheddar Gorge

This article is about a geographical feature in Somerset, England. For the game, see Cheddar Gorge (game).

Exposed limestone cliffs on either side of a road with cars on it.
Cheddar Gorge
Cheddar Gorge is located in the United Kingdom
Cheddar Gorge
Cheddar Gorge
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Location in the United Kingdom

Cheddar Gorge is a limestone gorge in the Mendip Hills, near the village of Cheddar, Somerset, England. The gorge is the site of the Cheddar show caves, where Britain's oldest complete human skeleton, Cheddar Man, estimated to be 9,000 years old, was found in 1903.[1] Older remains from the Upper Late Palaeolithic era (12,000–13,000 years ago) have been found.[2] The caves, produced by the activity of an underground river, contain stalactites and stalagmites. The gorge is part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest called Cheddar Complex.[3]

Cheddar Gorge, including the caves and other attractions, has become a tourist destination. In a 2005 poll of Radio Times readers, following its appearance on the television programme Seven Natural Wonders (2005), Cheddar Gorge was named as the second greatest natural wonder in Britain, surpassed only by Dan yr Ogof caves.[4] The gorge attracts about 500,000 visitors per year.[5]

  1. ^ "Tourist hotspots – Cheddar Gorge". BBC. Archived from the original on 16 December 2008. Retrieved 12 August 2007.
  2. ^ "Somerset Historic Environment Record". Somerset County Council. January 1983. Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2007.
  3. ^ "The Cheddar Complex" (PDF). English Nature. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 October 2006. Retrieved 17 July 2006.
  4. ^ "Caves win 'natural wonder' vote". BBC. 2 August 2005. Archived from the original on 27 June 2006. Retrieved 12 August 2007.
  5. ^ "Access Q&A: Cheddar Gorge". British Mountaineering Council. 1999. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 12 August 2007.

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